The region came together to support the Football Association delegation led by David Beckham, who handed over a final copy of the country’s bid to FIFA in Zurich last week.

Terry Monnington, director of physical education and sport at the University of Warwick, said: “My colleagues and I at the University of Warwick are proud, honoured and excited to be partnering the city of Birmingham in support of the England World Cup bid.

“From a personal perspective, having been born and educated in the city, supporting the bid in my home city is something very special.”

As well as providing a veritable feast of football, fun and culture across the region, it is also estimated that the local economy would benefit from around £150 million. The national economic impact is estimated at around £3.2 billion.

The NEC is among sites earmarked to provide the carnival atmosphere of official Fan Festivals, while hotels are being chosen to act as team base camps throughout the World Cup.

Meanwhile, researchers from Coventry University are on the ball ahead of this summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

A team from the university’s Centre for the International Business of Sport – CIBS – are preparing themselves for a summer of frenetic research activity.

Professor Simon Chadwick, founder and director of CIBS, believes the World Cup is one of the globe’s most important competitions for the sport business researchers.

He said: “The tournament represents a major opportunity for CIBS to further develop its research activities. Not only is it one of the most important events in the sporting calendar, but is also brings many sport business and sport management issues into sharp focus.

“As such, observing, analysing and reporting on South Africa 2010 will help us to better understand many of the most important emerging phenomena in sport.

“At CIBS, we will be taking a wide-ranging view of the tournament as we examine several of the most important aspects of marketing, branding, commercial strategy, event managing and security.”

CIBS will be working directly with researchers in South Africa in order to assess the impact that FIFA’s showcase event is having on entrepreneurial activity in the country.